MUMBAI: A recent study by leading IT solutions provider for aviation companies SITA and Airports Council International reveals that airports across the world are investing most in technologies that would make airport experience better for passengers and these airports are banking on social media and mobile apps for reaching out to passengers. The main thrust of this usage is for providing personal experience to the passengers in otherwise impersonal airport lobbies.

The 9th annual SITA survey, in partnership with ACI and Airline Business, reports that improving the passenger experience is the number one driver of IT investment by the majority (59%) of the world's airports.

Airports are using geolocation or the use of technology that would help locating the nearest internet connected device for three main reasons according ot the survey - Reducing passenger congestion with real time staff location (50%), monitoring of aircraft movements (32%) and movement of passengers at airports (31%).

The survey results are based on responses from 91 airport operators, representing the views of 173 airports worldwide, managing 2.3 billion passengers per year, SITA said.

As the mobile connectivity and reach penetrates deeper, airports across the world would want to keep passengers informed about their flight status and wait time through apps. The study reveals that 88% of the airports surveyed plan to invest in such technologies or apps by the end of 2015. During this period, 78% of airports also plan to invest in social media with two thirds of these currently focused on evaluations or trials.

And as the applications become more interactive the IT company said that within the next three years, new way-finding services are set to become commonplace on mobile devices, allowing passengers to navigate easily through the airport. Just 10% of airports provide them today but this is set to jump to 70% by 2015.

"This year's Airport IT Trends Survey shows that operators are investing in the 'intelligent airport' to improve the passenger experience in an operationally efficient manner. With airports planning to invest in business intelligence, and using it to better collaborate with partners, it is clear that there is a strong desire among operators to work together with stakeholders, including airlines and ground handlers, to create a better passenger journey," said Francesco Violante, CEO, SITA.